Being a family with two working parents can be tough. Mark and I get limited time with Colin during the week so most mornings, evenings, and weekends we focus on him so much that we end up losing sight of ourselves and us as a couple.
Recently it hit me that I was missing something from my life: alone time with myself. To remedy that, I joined my local YMCA. I go early in the morning and either run or take a fitness class. It is blissful. It's so refreshing to have time where I'm just me. I'm not "mama" or "hon" to anyone at the gym :) I can't tell you how much it helped my mood. I'm handling stress better...I'm in a better mood...my tush is tighter. It's a win-win for everyone - ha ha!
Since I've carved out some time for myself, I turned my attention to finding time for Mark and I to be alone. We work for the same company which just so happens to give all employees 40 hours of Volunteer Time Off each year. That's 5 days a year when Mark and I can hang out together and help our community while still getting paid (!!!!!!!!!!!!).
So earlier this week we volunteered together at a local Goodwill store. We were able to talk and joke around while sorting through racks of clothes. At lunch, we talked about our hopes for the future. It was just what we needed: time to just be together. We also decided to have regular lunch dates - yay!And bonus, we didn't miss any extra time with Colin like we would have had we gone out on a Saturday night.
I can't figure out how it took us 15 months to realize we have all this extra time right under our noses that we weren't utilizing!
Showing posts with label working mother. Show all posts
Showing posts with label working mother. Show all posts
Friday, March 2, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
On being a working mother
Today marks the one year anniversary of me officially being a Working Mom. My take on the past year?
It. Sucked. And it was way more difficult than I ever imagined it would be.
It's been hard for me to wrap my heart and head around the idea of barely spending 3 waking hours with my son during the week. And let's not forget how Colin is not a morning person and usually just cries at my feet while I get my things together for work. One good thing is that I can make a mean pot of coffee one handed :)
At night when we get home, all I want to do is hang out and play with him but we get home at 5:30 PM, dinner is on the table by 6 and he's in bed by 7. That doesn't leave much time for playing. Plus he is tired and hungry and just cries. And cries. And cries. I swear he saves up his tears all day and then the second we walk in the door, he lets loose and just screams. All night. It's rough, peeps.
Lately I've been struggling with devoting time for myself. I so badly want to get back in to a workout routine but I am finding it nearly impossible. Every time - every single time - I set my alarm to wake up early and work out, Colin also decides he wants to be up early. I know you're probably thinking "Make Mark take him!". Tried it. Doesn't work. Colin has a very low tolerance for Mark (no idea why) but when they're alone, Colin usually just screams. As a mom, I emotionally can NOT listen to my child screaming and try to ignore it just for half an hour of "Me Time". His happiness is more important to me than a workout.
I try my best to get in some workouts while I'm at work. I take the stairs every chance I get, I walk on my breaks. I take the long way to my car. It definitely does help but it's not enough. I need to find other ways to fit my fitness in to my day.
My only salvation from Colin's incessant screaming and my lack of exercise is the weekend. He is an absolute angel on weekends. We play, we cuddle, we chat. There is crying but nothing like during the week. I work out during naps and meals, something I can't do during the week. It's blissful.
A little voice in my head always reminds me that the grass may not be greener on the other side, though. If I were a stay at home mom, my relationship with Colin may not be as strong as it currently is. I try to remind myself that while yes, he does scream A LOT, he is genuinely a happy, well adjusted child.
And to me, that is the most important thing.
It. Sucked. And it was way more difficult than I ever imagined it would be.
It's been hard for me to wrap my heart and head around the idea of barely spending 3 waking hours with my son during the week. And let's not forget how Colin is not a morning person and usually just cries at my feet while I get my things together for work. One good thing is that I can make a mean pot of coffee one handed :)
At night when we get home, all I want to do is hang out and play with him but we get home at 5:30 PM, dinner is on the table by 6 and he's in bed by 7. That doesn't leave much time for playing. Plus he is tired and hungry and just cries. And cries. And cries. I swear he saves up his tears all day and then the second we walk in the door, he lets loose and just screams. All night. It's rough, peeps.
Lately I've been struggling with devoting time for myself. I so badly want to get back in to a workout routine but I am finding it nearly impossible. Every time - every single time - I set my alarm to wake up early and work out, Colin also decides he wants to be up early. I know you're probably thinking "Make Mark take him!". Tried it. Doesn't work. Colin has a very low tolerance for Mark (no idea why) but when they're alone, Colin usually just screams. As a mom, I emotionally can NOT listen to my child screaming and try to ignore it just for half an hour of "Me Time". His happiness is more important to me than a workout.
I try my best to get in some workouts while I'm at work. I take the stairs every chance I get, I walk on my breaks. I take the long way to my car. It definitely does help but it's not enough. I need to find other ways to fit my fitness in to my day.
My only salvation from Colin's incessant screaming and my lack of exercise is the weekend. He is an absolute angel on weekends. We play, we cuddle, we chat. There is crying but nothing like during the week. I work out during naps and meals, something I can't do during the week. It's blissful.
A little voice in my head always reminds me that the grass may not be greener on the other side, though. If I were a stay at home mom, my relationship with Colin may not be as strong as it currently is. I try to remind myself that while yes, he does scream A LOT, he is genuinely a happy, well adjusted child.
And to me, that is the most important thing.
Friday, December 23, 2011
How I know I am a working mother
Today my MIL came over to watch Colin while Mark and I were at work.
Picture me at 7:25 AM (roughly 5 minutes before she was due to arrive) rushing around making sure every last item was picked up and every surface was clean. Colin was in one of his "OMG dontyoudareputmedown!" moods so I was toting him (and a sippy cup full of milk) on my hip during my whirlwind. All the jostling around must have upset his stomach because before I knew it, he was burping. A lot. I thought "Please don't throw up" and then it happened.
Curdled whole milk spewed out of his mouth, down his bib, on to his shirt and pants...and landed right on the side of my sweater.
I handed him to my husband, who I thought would wipe him off so I could wipe myself off. Unfortunately, my husband just stood there with a dumb look on his face while I quickly wiped off my sweater. Then he kindly handed Colin back for me to wipe up. Fan-freakin'-tastic helping skills that man has.
I changed Colin's clothes faster than I ever have because I mean, I can't let my picture perfect MIL smell curled milk on him. She arrived just as I pulled the shirt over his head. Perfect timing!
Mark and I rushed around some more to get ready to leave for work and in the hustle and bustle, I forgot to change MY OWN SHIRT and I didn't even realize it until I took my coat off at work.
Now picture me sitting in my cubicle all day, every so often getting a whiff of the curdled milk.
I just hope no one noticed!
Picture me at 7:25 AM (roughly 5 minutes before she was due to arrive) rushing around making sure every last item was picked up and every surface was clean. Colin was in one of his "OMG dontyoudareputmedown!" moods so I was toting him (and a sippy cup full of milk) on my hip during my whirlwind. All the jostling around must have upset his stomach because before I knew it, he was burping. A lot. I thought "Please don't throw up" and then it happened.
Curdled whole milk spewed out of his mouth, down his bib, on to his shirt and pants...and landed right on the side of my sweater.
I handed him to my husband, who I thought would wipe him off so I could wipe myself off. Unfortunately, my husband just stood there with a dumb look on his face while I quickly wiped off my sweater. Then he kindly handed Colin back for me to wipe up. Fan-freakin'-tastic helping skills that man has.
I changed Colin's clothes faster than I ever have because I mean, I can't let my picture perfect MIL smell curled milk on him. She arrived just as I pulled the shirt over his head. Perfect timing!
Mark and I rushed around some more to get ready to leave for work and in the hustle and bustle, I forgot to change MY OWN SHIRT and I didn't even realize it until I took my coat off at work.
Now picture me sitting in my cubicle all day, every so often getting a whiff of the curdled milk.
I just hope no one noticed!
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